GDM, as the name suggests, is diabetes during gestational
period or pregnancy. This disorder simply means that you
have high blood sugar level and your body lose the ability to produce insulin-
a hormone that control sugar levels in blood.Though, GDM may arise during any
stage of your pregnancy, yet is more likely to develop in 2nd or 3rd
month of pregnancy.
Gestational Diabetes usually disappears after childbirth.
But, if untreated, sometimes can cause health problems to your baby or may
leads to Type-2 diabetes in mother in future.
1. Are you at risk of developing Gestational
Diabetes?
You are more likely to develop GDM,
if you:
a) have a close relative who has
diabetes
b) were overweight before pregnancy
c) have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
d) have had gestational diabetes during
previous pregnancies
e) have high blood pressure or other
medical complications that lead to diabetes
f) have previously given birth to a baby
of more than 4kgs (or 8 pounds)
2. Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
More often, GDM does not reflect noticeable
signs or symptoms. However, a few extreme cases of Gestational Diabetes show
following signs:
a) Excess thirst
b) Excess urination
c) Fatigue
d) Dryness in mouth
3. Treatment
Treating GDM is essential to prevent
future health complications. It is advised to seek your Doctors advice. Your Doctor
may ask you for:
a)
regular
blood sugar levels check-up
b)
regular
urine tests to check your insulin
c)
a
healthy diet
d)
regular
exercise
e)
medication
or insulin, if required.
4. How Gestational Diabetes affect you
and your baby?
Most
women with gestational diabetes have otherwise normal pregnancies with healthy
babies.
However, gestational diabetes may cause
problems within you and your baby such as:
a) Preterm birth and its effects- High
blood sugar level in mothers increase the risk of early labor. Preterm babies
may suffer from respiratory distress syndrome (difficulty in breathing).
b) Excess birth weight- Excess glucose
passes the placenta which activate baby’s pancreas to produce more insulin and
hence increasing baby’s weight.
c) Hypoglycaemia after birth
d) Breathing problems in baby
ii) You
a)
Preeclampsia-
a serious complication in pregnancy that causes high blood pressure and other
symptoms that can threaten the lives of mother and baby both
b)
Type
2 diabetes- Gestational diabetes during pregnancy may cause type 2 diabetes in mothers in future life, if left
untreated. This further leads to heart disease, kidney disease, and nerve
damage.
5. Planning future deliveries
For previous pregnancies with GDM, it
is advised to get checked for diabetes in future pregnancies. If your diagnosed
with diabetes, then your doctor will ensure your diabetes is under-control
before you conceive. Always, take care of a few points in case you had GDM
during any of your earlier pregnancies:
a) Make sure you inform your Doctor
about your GDM
b) Regular blood glucose levels check is
helpful by simply using finger-pricking device
c) Maintain a healthy lifestyle
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